Like gritty crime-show interrogation scenes, the kebob combines grilling, skewering, and meat and vegetable good cop/bad cop routines. Take the law into your own hands and mouth with today's Groupon: for $10, you get $20 worth of Mediterranean fare at Cedars Mediterranean Kitchen, located near the University of Chicago. This Groupon is worth $25 if redeemed Monday-Thursday.

At Cedars, exotic Mediterranean flavors explode from pitas, kebobs, shwarmas, and traditional dishes. Time Out Chicago raves about the restaurant’s falafel and the Chicago Reader says the pitas are “unusually good.” A massive brick oven in the dining room bakes these delectably fresh pitas and roasts succulent meats. Char-grilled lamb skewers mingle with tomatoes, onions, and tahina sauce in the kefta kebob sandwich pita, which is served with home-style french fries ($7.50) and the Mediterranean skirt steak sizzles at 1,500 degrees in a savory marinade of lemon, cumin, garlic, and jalapeños ($14.99). Curry-grilled Chilean salmon is massaged with curry and Mediterranean herbs and spices ($14.99). Dessert nibblings include honey-glazed baklava ($2.99), pineapple-cheese hareesa ($5.50), chilled cinnamon rice pudding ($4.50), and the Cedars trio that features all three ($8.99). Ensembles of four or more can elect the family-style option for portions fit for sharing or clobbering roving food bandits.

Because crowds are larger on weekends, stop in Monday-Thursday to make use of this Groupon's full value. Plus, Cedars is BYOB, so grab a bottle of wine or bring your own brother.

Reviews

Both Time Out Chicago and the Chicago Reader recommend Cedars Mediterranean Kitchen and nearly 100 Yelpers give it a 3.5-star average. Metromixers give Cedars an average of 3.7 stars, Yahoo! Locals give it a 4.5-star average, and nine zabihah reviewers give it an average of 4.4 stars:

• Cedars' falafel, hummus, baba ghanoush, lentil soup—pretty much everything that goes with its delicious, warm pita bread—have us hooked. And ever since its recent remodel—which reworked not only the now-slick dining room but the menu as well—we're equally enticed by the entrées. Sumptuous braised short ribs get a sweet pomegranate-glaze, and shekriya is comprised of tender lamb in a tangy yogurt sauce. – Time Out Chicago
• This Lebanese restaurant offers the usual suspects: marinated chicken kebabs, falafel, and hummus to spread on unusually good pita. Portions are generous, which makes it a great stop for those on a student budget. – Chicago Reader